Remote metering system



Mn 11, 1 38. HLENEHAN 2,117,894

REMOTE METERING SYSTEM:

Fil'd April 13. 1935 Sheets-Sheet 1 7' Variable dune/1% or Voltage Source M WITNESSES: INVENTOR M Earner/"d5 L6776/7d/2.

y 3 B. E. LENEHAN 2,117,894

REMOTE METERING SYSTEM" Filed April 13, 19:55 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 70 Variable Gar/ant or Voltage Sol/me WITNESSES: I INVENTOR 54, Bernardi. Lena/2am.

Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOTE METERING SYSTEDI Bernard E. Lenehan, Bloomfield, N. J., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 13, 1935, Serial No. 16,210

14 Claims. Hi -95) My invention relates, generally, to electric impedance circuit connected to be responsive to metering systems and it has particular relation an upsetting of a balanced system which is arto remote metering systems. ranged to substantially instantaneously initiate a It is desirable to provide remote metering syssequence of functioning for restoring the system terns which are sensitive to changes in the quanto the balanced condition without permitting 5 I tity being measured in order to afford an accuhunting therein. rate indication thereof. In the majority of such Still another object of my invention is to prosystems, a balance mechanism is used, together vide for controlling the output of a rectifier in with a restoring mechanism,which is arranged to accordance with the movement of a balance provide a restoring force proportional to the demechanism from a balanced position to, in turn, 10 gree of unbalance caused by changes in the quancontrol the conductivity of a space discharge tity being measured. Ameter, arranged to measdevice which is arranged to provide a restoring ure this restoring force, may be calibrated in force for restoring the balance mechanism to the terms of the quantity being measured, so that an balanced condition.

indication thereof is afi'orded. In mechanisms of A still further object of my invention is to pro- 15 this type it is well known that there is a tendency vide for utilizing the output of a high-frequency to hunt on the occurrence of a change in the quann r r, varied in accordance with the movetity being measured. Ordinarily, this tendency is ment of a balance mechanism from a balanced diminished by providing sufficient inertia in the condition, tocontrol the application of a restorbalance mechanism or by providing for damping ing force for restoring the balance mechanism to 20 its movement. the balanced condition.

Such provisions for preventing hunting render Gther objects of my invention will, in part, the system considerably less sensitive to changes be obvious, and, in part, appear hereinafter. in the quantity being measured, and, therefore, Accordingly, my invention is disclosed in the 5 the speed of response is considerably reduced. In e bo ime e eo S OW in the accompanying the design of such systems, it has been necessary drawings comprising the features of construction, to reach a compromise between a system which is combination of elements and arrangement of sensitive to changes in the quantity being measparts which Will be eXemplified in th C nstrucured and the provision of means for preventing tion hereinafter set forth and the scope of the hunting on the occurrence of such changes. As pp catio of which will be indicated in the 30 a result, at the remote point where the meter app nd d claims. measuring the restoring force is ordinarily located, F r a mo Complete u de s d ng of the only an average indication of the quantity being ur an Scope of my invention, reference y measured is provided. In many instances, this be had to the following detailed description, taken does not afford a sufficiently accurate indication in connection with the accompanying drawings, 35

of the quantity being measured for the purposes i h; desired, and, therefore, it is desirable to provide Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically one f a system which maybe constructed to be espet my invention, and Sensmve to changes i the quantity bemg Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically another and saunas to a of The object of my invention, generally stated, is S gi to g i I piovide a mgchw to provide a remote metering system which shall I T FiK a 8 Wm a 9 measurmg a be Simple, efficient and sensitive in Operation uantit an indication of which is desired at a 5 and which may be readily and economically man- Tammie AS is customary the Kelvin ufactured and installed ided with a restoring winding con- An important Object of my invention is to pm necteies circuit relation with the indicatvide for reducing hunting in a metering system eti'ument or motel Which y be located a to a minimum. ote point where the indication of thequan- Another important object of my invention is to u d is d s d- I iS Well known 50 rovide an anti-hunting effect in a remote meforce required 150 restore t e e vin baltering system which may be applied substantially o a balanced position is a measure of the instantaneously with the production of the upsetting the previous balanced condition. change causing the hunting. restoring force is applied by means of Another object of my invention is to provide an storing winding, a measure of the current 55 flowing therethroughwill give an indication of the quantity being measured.

In one modification of my invention, I provide a transformer, the primary winding of which may be connected to.a source of alternating current and a secondary winding which may be carried by the movable element of the Kelvin balance and is movable therewith. The movement of the secondary winding, in accordance with movements of the Kelvin balance, causes a greater or less voltage to, be induced therein, depending upon its position with respect to the primary winding. The output of the secondary winding may be rectified by means of a suitable rectifier and applied, in the form of direct current, to a load circuit. It will thus be apparent that the direct current voltage appearing in the load circuit is a function of the quantity being measured by the Kelvin balance. v

In series circuit relation with the restoring winding andv indicating meter is connected a space discharge device having the usual anode, cathode and control electrode. A capacitor and a resistor are connected in series circuit relation between the control electrode and the cathode and are also connected to be responsive to voltage changes in the load circuit previously described. It will be apparent that the conductivity of the space discharge device will be regulated in accordance with voltage changes in the load device, and as a result a restoring force may be applied by the restoring winding which is proportional'to the force upsetting the balance of the Kelvin balance.

Due, in part, to the inertia of the Kelvin hal ance, there is the usual tendency for it to over- ,shoot the position at which it will finally be balanced. The restoring force which tends to bring the Kelvin balance back to this position, will be delayed somewhat since its action depends upon the Kelvin balance being moved from a previously balanced position. There is thus a tendency for the Kelvin balance to hunt about the final position which is undesirable.

In order to reduce the hunting to a minimum and'to apply the restoring force as quickly as possible, it is desirable that the changes in voltage as applied to the load circuit, be reflected in changes in the current flowing through the re storing winding substantially instantaneously. When the capacitor and resistor circuit is used, as set forth, between the control electrode and the cathode of the space discharge device, such action will take place. This action is due to the fact that, during transient conditions, the volt age change in the capacitor and resistor circuit takes place initially almost entirely inthe resistor. This causes instantaneously a corresponding change in the conductivity of the space discharge device and as a result, the current flowing in the restoring winding is correspondingly changed.

In order to provide a more sensitive system, the Kelvin balance may be arranged to utilize the output of a high-frequency generator, such as a Hartley oscillator, and apply it to a powerful sun cameos drawings, the reference character In designates, generally, a. measuring device in the form of a Kelvin balance provided with stationary windings ii and movable windings I2-.-- As illustrated, the windings H and i2 may be'connected in series circuit relation and to the current or voltage source, an indication of which is desired. The windings l2 may be mounted on a movable support arm l3 which is fulcrumed at I4. A restoring winding I5 is mounted on an extension of the arm 13 and is disposed to cooperate with a permanent magnet I6. I

As illustrated, the Kelvin balance I0 is provided with an arm I! depending from the support arm i3. The arm I! is arranged to carry a secondary winding I8 of a transformer shown generally at IS, the primary winding 20 of which may be connected for energization to an alternating current source 2|. While a Kelvin balance has been illustrated and described herein as being provided for moving the secondary winding IS, in accordance with changes in the quantity being measured, it will be understood that any other suitable means may be provided for effecting this same movement.

The output of the secondary winding l8 may be rectified by means of a rectifier shown gener ally at 22, and provided'with an anode 23 and a cathode 24. The cathode 24 may be connected for energization to a secondary winding 25 of a transformer, shown generally at 26, having a primary winding 21 connected for energization to the alternating current source 2|. The transformer 26 may also be provided with an additional secondary winding 28, the purpose of which will be set forth hereinafter.

The rectifier 22 is arranged to feed a load clr-- cult comprising a resistor 29 and a capacitor 30. It will be understood that the voltage appearing across the load circuit comprising the resistor 29 and the capacitor 30 will depend upon the position of the secondary winding 58, which, in turn, will depend upon the value of the quantity being measured. Thus, the voltage appearing across the load circuit is a function of the quantity being measured.

In order to control the current flowing through the restoring winding IS, a space discharge device is connected in series circuit relation therewith having an anode 32, a grid 33 and a cathode 34. A recording or indicating meter 35, which may be located at a remote point, may also be connected in series circuit relation with the restoring winding 45 and the space discharge device iii to indicate at the remote point, the value of the quantity being measured. Current for energizing the restoring winding 15 may be obtained from the secondary winding 28.

order to control the conductivity of the space discharge device 3|, a transfer circuit comprising a resistor 36, a capacitor 31 and a resistor 38 is connected across the load circuit comprising the resistor 29 and the capacitor 30. As shown, the capacitor 31 and the resistor 38 are connected in series circuit relation and between the control electrode 33 and the cathode 34.

In operation, assuming that the quantity being measured by the Kelvin balance l0 has increased and that the secondary winding I8 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 39, a decrease in the rectified output of the rectifier 22 takes place, since the voltage induced in the secondary winding iii is reduced. As a result, the voltage across the load circuit comprising the resistor 29 and the capacitor 30 is correspondingly reduced, For an instant, the voltage across the capacitor 31 remains unchanged and the entire change in voltage takes place across the resistor 38. more positive with respect to the cathode 34 and there is a sudden increase in the conductivity of the space discharge device 3|. The current flow through the restoring winding i5 is then immediately increased to apply a restoring force to the Kelvin balance i0. With the proper adjustment of the system, it is possible to apply the restoring force substantially instantaneously with the occurrence of an unbalance 'in the Kelvin balance due to change in the quantity being measured. It will be apparent that, the Kelvin balance l8 may be made very sensitive and slight changes will immediately be indicated by the meter 35.

If the anti-hunting circuit comprising the capacitor 31 and the resistor 38 is not used, the

change in fiow of current through the restoring winding i5 on change of position of the Kelvin balance I8 may cause hunting in the position of the Kelvin balance. At the instant when a change in the current flowing through the windings of the Kelvin balance takes place, the forces exerted thereby and by the restoring winding are no longer equal. The difference between these forces accelerates the movement of the balance arm ii in moving to a new balanced position. However, when the balanced position is reached, the balance arm l3 continues to move due to its inertia and thus a hunting action takes place.

When the anti-hunting circuit comprising the capacitor 31 and the resistor 38 is employed,

the change in value of the control potential applied to the grid 33 on change in the position of the balance arm l3 takes place slowly due to the effect of the capacitor 31 but the resistor 38 introduces a component of control potential proportional to the capacitor charging current which in turn is proportional to the movement of the balance arm I 3 from the balanced position. Hence, thechange in control potential is proportional to the velocity or space rate of movement of the balance arm l3. This component of control potential is transient and causes, in turn, a transient force to be set up by the restoring wi g I5, Mathematically the transient force and hehsulting momentum may be represented by the well known formula: J Fdt=M V. It will thus be apparent that this transient force, exerted by the restoring winding i5, eliminates the effect of momentum, no hunting occurs, and there is no apparent inertia of the balance arm l3.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be' observed that the Kelvin balance [8 is arranged to control the conduc tivity of the space discharge device 3i through a somewhatdifferent agency than that illustrated in Fig. 1 and described hereinbefore. In this modification of the invention an oscillator, shown generally at 45, is provided for producing high-frequency oscillations such as at the rate of 10,000 cycles per second. The oscillator 45 illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is of the conventional Hartley type and since its nature and function are well known, a description thereof will not be set forth in detail herein.

The output of the oscillator 45 is applied to a capacitor 46 comprising fixed plates 41 between which a plate 48 may be moved in accordance with the movement of the Kelvin balance i0. As shown, the plate 48 may be carried by the depend- The control electrode 33 suddenly becomes,

ing arm il in somewhat the same manner as the secondary winding I8 is carried thereby, as illus-- trated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The movable plate 48 may be connected to a control electrode 48 of an amplifier shown genorally at 50. The amplifier 50 is of the type which is adapted to provide a high degree of amp1ification and is further provided with an anode 5|, a suppression grid 52, a screen grid 53 and an indirectly heated cathode 54. The plate potential for the amplifier 58, for the oscillator 45 and for the space discharge device 3i may be provided by means of a full-wave rectifier, shown generally at 55, and which may be energized from a secondary winding 56 on the transformer 26.

The output of the amplifier 58 is applied to a load circuit which, in this instance, comprises the previously described resistor 29. The circuit comprising the resistor 36, capacitor 31 and resistor 38 is connected across the load device comprising a resistor 29 in a manner and for the purpose set forth hereinbefore. An additional small capacitor 51 is provided in shunt circuit relation with the resistor 38 in order to filter out the high-frequency oscillations from the oscillator 45, which would otherwise be applied to the control electrode 33.

As illustrated, the amplifier 50 has applied thereto high-frequency oscillations from the oscillator 45 through a capacitor 50. The control electrode 49, which is connected to the movable plate 48 has appliedto it an alternating voltage, the magnitude and direction of which vary with the position of the plate 48. If the control electrode 48 and anode 5| are simultaneously positive with respect to their average voltages. the plate voltageis high and a corresponding current flows through the load circuit comprising the resistor 29. If the control electrode 49 is negative when the anode 5| is positive, the current flowing through the load circuit comprising the resistor 28 is oi a very low value or of zero value. Stated differently, the oscillations from the oscillation generator 45 are applied across the anode 5l and the cathode 54 of the amplifier 58. The amount of direct current conducted by the amplifier 58 will depend upon the magnitude and phase relation of the potential applied to the control grid 48 relative to the potential applied to the anode 5|. These functions are controlled by the relative position 0! the plate 48 with respect to the plates 41 which, as illustrated, are connected to opposite terminals of the oscillator inductor 8|. As a result, in response to slight movements of the movable plate 48, corresponding amplified changes in current fiow through the load device comprising the resistor 29 take place. These changes are reflected in changes in the potential of the control electrode 33, as set forth hereinne I claim as my invention;

1. A metering system comprising, in combination, balance means disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity to be measured, thermionic means for applying and measuring the force required to restore said balance means to a balanced condition when changes in said quantity occur thereby providing an indication of said quantity, said thermionic means including a space discharge device having an anode, a cathode and a control electrode, circuit means including reactance and resistance means connected in series circuit relation between said cathode and control electrode, and means for connecting said circuit means to be continuously responsive to a voltage variable in accordance with the movement of said balance means.

2. A metering system comprising, in combine,- tion, balance means disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity to be measured, thermionic means for applying and measuring the force required to restore said balance means to a balanced condition when changes in said quantity occur thereby providing an indication of said quantity, said thermionic means including a space discharge device having an anode, a cathode and a control electrode, a capacitor and a resistor connected in series circuit relation between said cathode and control electrode whereby changes in voltage applied across said series circuit are substantially instantaneously reflected in corresponding changes in the output of said space discharge device, and circuit means for connecting said series circuit to be continuously responsive to a voltage variable in accord ance with the movement of said balance means.

3. A metering system comprising, in combination, balance means disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity to be measured, a restoring winding for restoring said balance means to a balanced condition on departure therefrom, circuit means for connecting said restoring winding to a current source, a space discharge device interposed in said circuit means having an anode, a cathode and a control electrode, circuit means including reactance and resistance means connected in series circuit relation between said cathode and control electrode, and means for connecting said last-named circuit means to be continuously responsive to a voltage variable in accordance with the movement of said balance means.

4. A metering system comprising, in combina tion, balance means disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity to be measured, a restoring winding for restoring said balance -means to a balanced condition on departure therefrom, circuit means for connecting said restoring winding to a current source, a space dis charge device interposed in said circuit means having an anode, a cathode and a control elec trode, a capacitor and a resistor connected in se" the voltage obtained from said source, a restoring winding disposed to restore said balance means to a balanced condition on departure therefrom, circuit means for connecting said restoring winding to a current source, a space discharge device interposed in said circuit means having an anode, a cathode and a control electrode, and a capacitor and a resistor connected in series circuit relation between said cathode and control electrode and to be continuously responsive to said regulated voltage whereby changes in said voltage are substantially instantaneously reflected in corresponding changes ii r-the output of said space discharge device to provide an anti-hunting eifect in said restoring winding.

6. A metering system comprising, in combination, balance means disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity to be measured, a restoring winding on the balance means disposed to restore said balance means to a balanced condition on departure therefrom, a meter, a transformer having a primary winding connected to a source of alternating current and a secondary winding movable with respect to said primary Winding in accordance with the movement of said balance means, a unidirectional conducting space discharge device and a load circuit connected in series circuit relation with said secondary winding, circuit means for connecting said restoring winding and meter in series to a current source, and space discharge means for controlling the flow of current to said restoring winding and meter in accordance with voltage variations appearing across said load circuit for restoring said balance means to a balanced condition and actuating the meter in accordance with the quantity measured.

7. A metering system comprising, in combina tion, balance means disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity to be measured, a restoring winding on the balance means disposed to restore said balance means to a balanced condition on departure therefrom, a meter, a transformer having a primary winding connected to a source of alternating current and a secondary winding movable with respect to said primary winding in accordance with the movement of said balance means, a unidirectional conducting space discharge device and a load circuit comprising a resistor connected in series circuit relation with said secondary winding, circuit means for connecting said restoring winding and meter in series to a current source, and space discharge means interposed in said circuit means and disposed to be responsive to voltage variations appearing across the resistor in said load circuit for correspondingly controlling the current flow through said restoring winding and meter to restore said balance means to a balanced condition and actuate the meter in accordance with the quantity measured. I

S. A metering system comprising, in combination, balance means disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity to be measured, a restoring winding disposed to restore said balance means to balanced condition on departure therefrom, a transformer having a primary winding connected to a source of alternating current and a secondary winding movable with respect to said primary winding in accordance with the movement of said balance means, a unidirectional conducting space discharge device and a load circuit connected in series circuit relation with said secondary Winding, circuit means for connecting said restoring winding to said source of alternating current, a space discharge device interposed in said circuit means having an anode, a cathode and a control electrode, and a capacitor and a resistor connected in series circuit relation between said cathode and control electrode and to be responsive to variations in voltage appearing across said load circuit whereby said voltage variations are substantially instantaneously reflected in corresponding changes in the current flowing through said space discharge device to provide a restoring and anti-hunting effect in said restoring winding.

9. A metering system comprising, in combination, balance means disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity to be measured, a restoring winding disposed to restore said balance means to a balanced condition on departure therefrom, a source of high frequency current,

a capacitor comprising a pair of plates connected to said source of high-frequency current and a plate positioned therebetween and movable in accordance with the movement of said balance means, a space discharge amplifier having an anode and a cathode connected to said source of high-frequency current and a control electrode-connected to said movable plate of said capacitor, a load circuit for said amplifier the voltage across which is a function of the conductivity of said amplifier as controlled by'the position of said movable plate, circuit means for connecting saidrestoring winding to a current source, and means for controlling the flow of current to said" restoring winding in accordance with voltage variations appearing across said load circuit for restoring said balance means to a balanced condition.

10. A metering system comprising, in combination, balance means disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity to be measured, a restoring winding disposed to restore said balance means to a balanced condition on departure therefrom, a source of high-frequency current, a capacitor comprising a pair of plates connected to said source of high-frequency current and a plate positioned therebetween and movable in accordance with the movementof said balance means, a space discharge amplifier having an anode and a cathode connected to said source of high-frequency current and a -control electrode connected to said movable plate of said capacitor, 21. load circuit for said amplifier the voltage across which is a function of the conductivity of said amplifier as controlled by the position of said movable plate, circuit means for connecting said restoring winding to a current source, and space discharge means interposed in said circuit means and disposed to be responsive to voltage variations appearing in said load circuit for correspondingly controlling the current flow through said restoring winding to restore said balance means to a balanced condition.

11. A metering system smprising, in combination, balance means disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity be measured, a restoring winding disposed to restore said balance means to a balanced condition on departure therefrom, a source of izigh frequency current, a capacitor comprising a pair of plates connected to said source oi high-frequency current and a plate positioned therebetween and. movable in accordance with the movement said balance means, a space discharge amplifier having an anode and a cathode connected to said. source of high frequency current and a control electrode movable plate, circuit means for connecting said. 5

' restoring winding to a current source, a space discharge device interposed in said circuit means having an anode, a cathode and a control electrode, and a capacitor and a resistor connected in series circuit relation between said. cathode and control electrode and to be responsive to variations in voltage appearing in said load circuit whereby said voltage variations are substantially instantaneously reflected in corresponding changes in the current flowing through said space discharge device to provide a restoring and antihunting eifect in said restoring winding.

12. A metering system comprising in combination, balance means disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity to be measured, said balance means having a direct current balancing element, an-energizing circuit for the balancing element, a thermionic device in said energizing circuit for controlling the degree of energization of the balancing element, an energized circuit ineluding a load resistor, means actuated in accordance with the movements of the balance means for continuously controlling the flow of current through the load resistor, and circuit means interposed between the thermionic device and the load resistor for controlling the conductivity of said thermionic device in accordance with the voltage drop across said resistor.

13. A metering system comprising, in combination, balance means disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity to be measured, said balance means having a balancing element, a meter connected in series circuit relation with the balancing element, a space discharge device having a voltage responsive control element for controlling the energization of the balancing element and meter, 9. load resistor, a circuit including means for energizing the load resistor with direct current and including means actuated by the balance means for continuously controlling the voltage impressed on said circuit in accord-.

ance with the movement of the balance means, and means for connecting the control element of the space discharge device to be responsive to the voltage drop across said load resistor, said means being adapted to effect substantially instantaneous changes in the conductivity of the space discharge device in response to any movement of the balance means.

14. A metering system comprising, in combination, a Kelvin balance disposed to be responsive to variations in a quantity to be measured and having a direct-current balancing element, a source of alternating-current voltage, a load circuit including a rectifier device connected to said source, means actuated by the balance for continually varying the voltage impressed on the load circuit in accordance with the movements of the balance, a circuit connecting the balancing element to said source, a space discharge device connected in said circuit for controlling the flow of current through the balancing element, and circuit means connecting the space discharge device to the load circuit to control the conductivity of said device, whereby the energization of the balancing element is continually controlled in accordance with the voltage impressed upon the load circuit.

BERNARD E. mam. 

